Today we’d like to introduce you to Sophia Parker.
Hi Sophia, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started to work with Project HEAL after my last stint in eating disorder treatment. I had always known about Project HEAL, and had always wanted to work with them, but never felt that I was in the right place to do so – in terms of my mental health and also due to my demanding job. I spent the majority of 2019 in treatment, and in early 2021 felt that I was finally in a good place to volunteer with Project HEAL. I started as an Ambassador, and was able to work my way up to Ambassador Program Manager.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. I have dealt with mental illness my entire life (mood and anxiety disorders, as well as an eating disorder), and it was manageable – until it wasn’t. For a very long time I was able to function “normally,” but eventually it became that that was no longer the case. It came to a point where my personal struggles impeded my ability to work, and to continue life as I had known it. Through a lot of treatment and therapy, as well as social support, I am now in a place where the road is, and hopefully will remain, much smoother.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My background is in Forensic Psychology and I worked in that field for many years. I think some things that made me successful in that role were my empathy and ability to work well with others. In addition, I think my honesty made it easy for people to trust me, as I was always very straightforward with clients, even when it came to difficult topics, and I always created a non-judgmental space for people to open up. I think this approach opened the door to effective communication. I am most proud of the trusting and respectful client relationships I was able to make during this time.
I now work in more of an activist and awareness-raising role in regards to eating disorders. I think that the aforementioned qualities have helped me in this life-stage as well. My role allows me to work with many different people, and I feel that my ability to listen to and collaborate with others make me easy to work with.
My professional growth is definitely something I am proud of. I have been able to start small and then create bigger opportunities for myself. I think part of this also has to do with my willingness and eagerness to learn and evolve. I am always ready to absorb new information and knowledge and use that to better myself, my engagement with others, and the world I am living in.
What matters most to you? Why?
Connection to others is something that is really valuable to me. It is something that shapes not only personal relationships, but how we interact with the world. Being in a space that includes people with shared values allows for growth, strength, and self-fulfillment.
My family and friends are so important to me, as they have always loved and supported me, even when things became very difficult. These relationships have definitely gotten me through some very challenging times, and I know not everyone has this; I am very lucky to have been born into a close-knit family that is always there for each other. There are a lot of tough things in life, and as much as one can try, it can be so hard to manage that without social support – especially the support of people close with you.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @suppasoph_parker
